Roller skate reinforcing plate



l R. R. WARE, .111 I. A 2,424,783

ROLLER SKA'IA'E REINFORCING P'LAT Filed Jan. 5, 1945 miauw JNVENTOR.

Patented July 29, 1947 Rober-t1 R. Ware, Jrg',

Chicago: Roller Chicago,-.IlI., .assignorrfo .Skate Company;v Chicago, flli.,.

acorporation ofArizonzu f n I Application January 5, 194,5;se1-'ia1iva-571390 scolaires; (c1. 280411.19 i

The1 present invention lrelates to a`- roller Vskate construction and more particularly tomeans for reinforcing a rollersk'ate vsolev plate. D

Thef'preserit invention is'more particularly-dire'ctedto 'a skate of the-type'having resiliently supported 4axle mountings larranged to permit the axles to yield with respect to the body'portion of't1'1eskat`ey andto`-swivel about predetermined axes for shifting the wheels relative to the body of the skate to facilitate turning and control. In such construction a suitable yielding or cushioning connection is provided between the axles of the wheels or rollers together `with a positive mechanical connection for limiting the yieldable movement of the axle assemblies in accordance with thepredetermined plane. I

In skatesofth-isetype,` which are commonly permanently`A secured-to the` skating shoe-,v the more :experienced skaters and? the Vfigure vskaters putl-agreatldeal of-st-rai-n-uponthe skates For certain skating moves, it might also be desirable to provide a greater clearance between the body of the skate or the skating shoe and the wheels or rollers of the skate. It also would be desirable to provide a suitable reinforcement for the sole plate in such type of skate so as to better Withstand the stress and strain to which the skate body is to be subjected. In order to provide such advantages without requiring a complete redesign of the components comprising such type of skate, which would necessarily make such improved structure relatively expensive, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a roller skate reinforcing plate to be inserted between the sole plate of the skate and the remainder of the skate which constitutes the rollers, axles, and interrelated parts.

It, therefore, is an object of the present invention to provide an improved skate construction comprising a roller skate reinforcing plate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved roller skate reinforcing plate which will provide certain advantages over the arrangements of the prior art without necessitating complete redesign and reconstruction of the roller skate.

Other and further objects of the present invention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side view of a roller skate provided with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the bottom of the roller skateias'seeninthe-direc on fofltlie'arrowsflaI-ong the step'line2L-1.?ofl'Figurel 1;

Figure 4 is aperspective-view' off`the'roller skatef-reinforcinglsole 'pla-te" comprising the present invention;` Y

Eigure1f5 is a-fcrosssectional view of l'tl'ie plate shownin Eigurefftas seen -in thedirection' 'of the arrows lalongtheflinef5"-5;l f

Referring to Figures l, 2',land"3f"1in=th'e drawing itwifll beflseen thatlthereflias 4been 'ishown l aV sole plate i III` ofthe type *adapt-'ed itolbe secured to the solei-cria skating'fsh'oe `*by-any `suitable :means `such asrivets fon screws;v Adjacent each end ofi' the solei plate I 0f, there is :provided a bracket such Yas the rear; bracket I 2 -andafforward'l bracket I4 which is associated with pivotallyandfrcsiliently mountedwhee-ls lori rollersl iI 6i and;I I 8.' Since fboth the: forward zandrear iwheeleassembiies are; substantiallyA identical :ini generaliformzofconstruction, further description of such assembly will be limited to one of these assemblies.

The bracket I 2 has a ball socket 20 which engages the ball end of an arm 22 connected at its other extremity to a suitable housing 24 which receives the roller or wheel axle 26. The housing 24 is provided with a flange 28 of such shape as to provide a cup-shaped recess for receiving a resilient cushion or buffer 30. The buffer 30 and the flange 28 are each provided with an aperture through which extends a bolt 32. The bolt 32 threadedly engages an embossment 34 which forms a part of the bracket I2. Immediately beneath the embossment 34 there is positioned one end of a strap 3K6 which cooperates with another strap 38 to provide a truss construction interconnecting the front and rear brackets and wheel assemblies. The strap 36 is retained in position by a jam nut 40. The upper strap 38 is suitably secured to the brackets l2 and I4. The structure thus far described generally corresponds to a type of skate structure common in the art and does not constitute a part of thev present invention.

The foregoing structure, however, cooperates with the present invention to provide an improved skate structure of greater rigidity and more versatile manipulation by the skater. To provide such improved operation there is mounted between the sole plate I0 and the front and rear brackets I2 and I4 a reinforcing plate 42. Suitable rivets such as 44 interconnect in rigid relationship the reinforcing plate 42 with the body4 I8 and with the front Iand rear brackets I2 and I4. As may be seen from Figures 2 to 5 the plate 42 has two similar end portions 46 and 4 which are substantially solid so as to provide adequate supporting and reinforcing surfaces to the brackets I2 and I4. The solid end portions 46 and 48 of the reinforcing plate 42 are interconnected by a plurality of ribs 50 yarranged in the manner of beams so as to provide maximum longitudinal reinforcement and rigidity. The beams 50 are interconnected at the center by a cross member 521 so that the two end portions 46 and 48 are interconnected by a grid structure. Preferably the structure shown, which comprises the reinforcing plate 42, is one which is formed of a metal having suitable rigid characteristics such as forged steel. At the point where the members 50 and 52 cross, there is provided an apertured embossment 54 for receiving the upper end of a collared pin 56 which serves to interco nect the central portions of the truss straps 36 and 38. From the cross sectional view shown in Figure 5 it becomes apparent that the reinforcing plate 42 has appreciable height so that the sole plate l0 is elevated above the position which it would have were it connected directly to the end brackets I2 and I4. By virtue of this i11- creased distance between the sole plate l0 and the roller I6 `a greater clearance is provided for the pivotal action of the sole plate l0 relative to the plane of the rollers the manipulation and movement of the skate by the more experienced skaters.

While for the purpose of showing and describing the present invention, a preferred embodiment has been shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such modifications are contemplated as may be commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following` claims.

This invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a roller skate which includes a sole plate adapted to be secured to a shoe, brackets respectively secured to the ends of said sole plate, a plurality of rollers, means for supporting said rollers by said brackets in limited pivotal relation to said sole plate, a truss interconnecting said brackets and said supporting means, and connecting means extending between said truss and an intermediate portion of said sole plate, the combination therewith .comprising an elongated reinforcing plate of substantial thickness disposed intermediate said sole plate and said brackets, said plate having solid end portions for backing said brackets and a ribbed intermediate portion above said truss, whereby said sole plate is both reinforced and elevated to increase the maneuverability of the skate.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing plate has flat upper and lower surfaces disposed in substantially parallel planes.

I6 thereby facilitating 3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing plate is narrow in comparison with said sole plate.

4. The combination set forth in .claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of said reinforcing plate has a boss to receive the connecting means extending between said truss and said sole plate.

ROBERT R. WARE, Ja.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

